Cryptographic method and apparatus.



APPARATUS.

.1. l9 7. 1 ,285,567. I Patented Nov. 19, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET R. euzMAN M.

CRYFTOGRAPHIC METHOD AND APPARATUS.

APPLICATlON FILED NOV.7,l9l1

1 ,285,567.. Patented Nov. 19, 1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

- 425-6-7 9 91 711213-/4-7& 6q7 2 30- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAMON GUZKAN H, 01 TEGUCIGALPA, VIA PUERTO CORTES, HONDURAS.

CRYPTOGRAPHIC METHOD AND APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Ramos (mz mn M, a cit izen of Honduras, CentralAmerica, residing at 'legucigalpa, via Pucrto Cortes, Honduras, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Cryptographic Methodsand Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useiul improvements in cryptograms,cryptographic, apparatus for codlng and decoding I purposes inconnection with cryptograms and a method of coding and de-codingmessages by use of the apparatus, and has for its pr mary object theprovision of a cryptographic apparatus which may be employed lllconnect-ion with a single table and by which messages may be coded andtie-coded 1n prac: tically an infinite number of ways eaclrot which canbe known only to those familiar with the order or sequence of theparticular message with respect to previous messagesand also familiarwith a predetermined plan of employment of the apparatus.

At the present time many messages, if not of a secret nature, are sentby any one of a number of well-known code systems such as the A. B. C.code, in which a complete phrase or sentence is expressed by a number,usually of several digits, five digit numbers being most commonlyemployed, and the num bers seldom if ever containing more than fivedigits, as a number of five digits is as large as the telegraph andcable companies will accept as a single word. At the same time thetelegraph and cable companies Wlll accept as a single word a coined ornon-dictionaryword having any number of letters up to and including tenproviding the word is made up of readily pronounceable syllables.

One of the chief objects of my present invention consists in providingan apparatus and method for transposing the numerical words, of anydesired code, into alphabetical words and in transmitting thealphabetical words so constructed by wire or cable as the message.

In this connection a further object of my invention resides inaccomplishing this in such a manner that only approximately half as manyalphabetical Words are required as numerical words for conveying thesame message.

Obviously in the transmission of either numerical or alphabetical wordsmistakes Indication of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 7. 1917.

Patented Nov. 19, 1918.

Serial No. 200,816.

are apt to occur, and another object which I have in view is theprovision of a check upon the message, as regards its accuracy, thecheck being such that it will not materially lengthen the message.

Another object of my invention consists in providing an apparatus havinga plurality of relatively movable annular charts in which all of thecharts are divided into the same number of divisions and in which thedivisions of one chart are inscribed with munbers, preferably arrangedin sequence for the sake of convenience and in which all of the othercharts are inscribed with some two-lettered syllable always beginningwith a consonant and ending with a'vowel.

A further object of my invention consists in providing in connectionwith this apparatus a chart which may be considered as a coordinatechart, in which the chart is divided into a plurality of series ofalined divisions containing numbers in chronological order and in whichthe ordinate for the various d1v1s1ons, reading one Way of the chart, isa number and in which the ordinate of the,

by another to further increase the different cryptograms which may beemployed.

With these and other objects in view, my invention will be more fullydescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and thenspecifically pointed out in the claims which form a part of thisapplication.

, In the drawlngs:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the annular chart supporting member, showingone set of charts in place and in normal position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the charts set to code or de-code amessage under certain specific circumstances;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a chart adapted to be employed in connectionwith the above apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a diametric vertical sectional view taken through the chartring carrying apparatus, thecover of the apparatus, not

shown in Figs. 1 and 2, being here shown in taken on the line 66 of Fig.

Fig. 7 is a diagram representing the order of vowels and consonants tobe employed in setting the apparatus for coding and decoding successivemessages between the same parties;

Figs. 8 and 9'sh0w tables which maybe employed by the correspondents inkeeping check upon the number of messages recelved and the successiveorders of vowels and consonants which have been employed upon theapparatus in coding and de-coding them;

Fig. 10 is a view showing two additional dial rings of a different setfrom those shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

In order to insure a clear understanding of my invention I will firstexplain the apparatus and various charts employed and will then give anexample of the method in which they are employed.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 4 to 6 of the drawings theapparatus includes a substantially shallow cylindrical casing .10 formedinteriorly with upstanding supporting studs 11 upon'which rests a table12 which is secured to the studs by screws 13, being disposed centrallyof the casing and formed with an upwardly directed central shaft 14 thetop of which terminates at substantially the level of the upper edge ofthe peripheral wall of the casing. Fitting closely around this shaft andresting upon the table 12 is a fixed hub 15 which may be secured againstturning about the shaft in any suitable manner and which is held againstupward displacement by 'a thumb screw 16 threaded into the upper end ofthe shaft. Mounted about this fixed hub are a plurality of disks 17, 18,19,20, 21, 22 and 23 gradually increasing in diameter from the uppermostwhich is the smallest, .to the last or lowest disk 23 which at its edgeis supported by an'annular shoulder 24 formed in the peripheral wall ofthe casing. The smallest disk 17 is practically a relatively narrow ringand is fixed to the hub in any suitable manner to remain stationary,while the remaining disks are free for turning move ment about the hub.Each of the remaining disks, save the bottom disk 23, is formed in itslower face with recesses 25 to receive roller bearings 26 which extendradially with respect to the disks and which en gage the upper faces ofthe next lower disk so that one disk may turn freely upon another.

Each of the, rotatable disks 18 to 23 is v in the peripheral face ofother. Shafts 30 are journaled in the hub and have squared portions 31engaging one in the hub of each pinion. At their outer ends these shaftsproject above the hub and are squared to receive turn-buttons 32 bymeans of which the shafts may be independently rotated in eitherdirection to act through their pinions to independently and selectivelyrevolve the various disks, with the exception of the 17. As shown inFigs. 1 and 2 the upper face ofeach turnbutton 32 is inscribed with anumber corresponding to the location of the disk which it controls, thefixed disk not being considered and the others being numbered from theinnermost to the outermost, the disks 18 to 23 inclusive being numberedone to six respectively. At suitable levels the hub is also formed withradial bores 33 receiving light helical springs 34 which engage againstcircular detents 39 to hold such detents one in engagement with each ofthe internal gears of the rotatable disks. By this means a frictionallock is provided which will hold a disk against turning through frictionbetween it and another disk being positively turned so 'that alllikelihood' of any undesired shifting of the disks is avoided.

A plurality of studs or pins 36 are threaded or otherwise secured in theexposed peripheral portions of the several disks 18 to 23 inclusive,being spaced at suitable circumferential intervals and fixed to theupper ends of these studs or pins are rings 37, 38, 39, 40, 41 and 42which are thus supported in concentric relation with respect to eachother, these rings being so proportioned that their edges willsubstantially engage against each other and the pins being soproportioned that the upper surfaces of all of the rings and the uppersurfaces of the disk 17 lie in a common plane. The disk or ring 17 andall of the rings 38 to 42 inclusive are provided at spaced peripheralintervals with short upwardly directed pins or prongs 43 which serve asa means for retaining chart rings 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 and 50, thechart rings 44 to 50 inclusive corresponding to the disks 17 to 23respectively. Ob iously by this arrangement any chart ring will beturned when its corresponding disk is turned while at the same time anychart ring, which as will be later explained has certain inscriptions orlettering, may be readily removed or replaced by a differently inscribedor lettered chart ring. At this point it should be noted that the chartrings are preferably colored and that each ring has a distinctive coloras regards the remaining rings.

All of the chart rings upon their upper faces are inscribed with radialdivision lines 51 so that each chart ring is divided into twenty equaldivisions or sections, the division lines being so arranged that thelines of the various rings may be brought into alinement with each otherto bring the sections or divisionsinto alinement, as clearly shown inFigs. 1 and 2. The inner or fixed chart ring has its divisionsconsecutively numbered from 01 to 20, while the remaining or revolvingchart rings which will be considered as numbered from one to sixinclusive have each division inscribed with some two-letter syllable,each syllable in every instance beginning with a consonant and endingwith a vowel, Y being employed both as a consonant and as a vowel. Thefirst or inner lettered chart disk 45 has its divisions consecutivelyinscribed with the consonants from B to Z inclusive, with the exceptionof the consonant Q, Y being provided in the nineteenth division as aconsonant. In each of these divisions the consonant is followed by thesame vowel which in the chart ring shown in Fig. 1 is the vowel A and inthe chart ring shown in Fig. 2 is the vowel U.

In like manner each distinguishing vowel in all its various divisionspreceded by the same consonants employed in the same order as on thefirst chart ring. As shown in Fig. 1 the order of vowels for thesuccessive chart rings beginning with the first or inner and ending withthe sixth or outer is A E I O U Y, while in Fig. 2 showing a differentset of the chart rings the order of vowels from the first to the sixthchart rings is U Y A E I 0, although in all instances the samealphabetical order of consonants has been followed. The only exceptionto this rule of inscribing the letters upon the charts, is that whereverdue to the use of Y both as a vowel and as a consonant the two wouldcome together in a chart division an arbitrarily selected consonant suchas S will be substituted for the second Y in order to make apronounceable syllable. Obviously,

the reason for employing six chart rings in connection with the firstnumbered ring is due to the fact that there are six vowels and as manyrings a there are vowels should be employed.

Upon an examination of the two series of chart rings shown in Figs. 1and 2 it will be obvious that six complete sets of lettered chart ringsmay be employed without changing the order of vowels from their regularalchart ring has its order by merely having the inner chart rininscribed with the six different vowels. bviously, if all possiblechanges in the order and arrangement of the vowels upon the six chartrings was carried out 720 different sets of chart rings could beprovided, but as'a rule only the six main sets will be employed as thefacility with which phabetical the apparatus may be used isgreatlyincreased if the vowels are arranged in familiar alphabeticalorder. In like manner an infinite number of additional series of chartrings could be provided by arranging the successive order of theconsonants in different ways, but this will not ordinarily be done dueto the added facility with which the apparatus may be employed with theconsonants arranged in alphabetical series for, as will be laterapparent, an almost infinite number of cryptographic codes with only thesix sets of charts will be provided by means of varying the order oftheir use through prearrangement between the correspondents. It shouldbe noted that every group or syllable of two letters in the variousdivisions, always being made up of a consonant followed by a vowel isreadily pronounceable so that words formed by combining a number of suchsyllables will be pronounceable and, therefore, acceptable by telegraphand cable companies.

Cooperating with the above described apparatus and employed inconnection therewith is a chart 52 shown in Fig. 3. This chart may beprinted upon paper, celluloid or other suitable material, such as mayalso be employed for the chart rings previously described and is in theform of a table having vertical and transverse columns with divisions 53above the vertical columns and divisions 54 at the left of thehorizontal columns inscribed with ordinates which used in conjunctionwith each other will give the location of any table division both by itsvertical and its horizontal column. The di visions 53 are successivelyinscribed with the ordinate numbers from 01 to 20 corresponding to thenumbers in the fixed chart ring 44 of the apparatus previouslydescribed. The divisions at the left of the table are successivelyinscribed from the upper to thelower division as the first,'sec0nd,third, fourth,

fifth and sixth rings. The divisions of the chart table itself are inscrbed in numbers ranging from 01 to 117, the order of numbering being fromleft to right in the first horizontal column and from left to right insucceeding horizontal columns. This numbering leaves three spaces at thelower right hand corner of the table which are inscribed with thenumerals 0, 00, 000. Each horizontal column of this table isdistinctively colored incorrespondence with its chart ring of theapparatus previously described. For instance, if the first and-secondchart rings of the apparatus are colored blue and red the first andsecond horizontal columns of the table will be colored blue and redrespectively. It will, therefore, be apparent that at a glancecorrespondent may determine from any column in the table just whichchart ring is to be consulted or from any chart ring just whichhorizontal column of the table is to be consulted. This feature will bemore clearly brought out in describin the use of the apparatus.

11 order to describe the operation of the method of employing theforegoing apparatus both for preparing messages to be sent and forde-coding messages received I will give a sample message and tracethrough the successive steps gone through by both the correspondentssending the message and the one receiving it. In doing this I willassume that through a prearranged .plan the apparatus is to be employedwith the chart rings inscribed and relatively arranged as shown in Fig.2, in which the order of the vowels from the inner to the outer ring isU Y A E I O and in which the order of the consonants from the inner tothe outer ring opposite the numeral 01 of the fixed ring is X T N K G D.

Under these circumstances the correspondent sending the message willconsult any predetermined code book, such asthc A. B. C. code book andwill first write hismessage in this code as a series of numbers ornumerical words in the usual manner and. as follows:

60,341 19,e52 41,806 10,633 a0,1s5

These eight numbers taken from the code, of course, represent eightcomplete phrases or sentences constituting the message which thecorrespondent wishes to transmit and the correspondent will, therefore,proceed to transpose these numbers into letters which may be groupedinto words of ten letters, each taking care during the operation thatthe successive syllables formed be readily pronounceable, in otherwords, making sure that any consonants employed Without connection witha vowel shall occur either as the third or last letter in the group ofletters obtained by coding each number. Correspondent by referring tothe table shown in Fig. 3, will find that there is no single num-' berin the table greater than 117 and will, therefore, take 60, beingthefirst two figures of the first number as the group to be first coded andwill find 60 in the table. As there shown the number 60 occurs in thevertical column numbered 20, and in the horizontal column correspondingto the third ring of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 correspondent willtherefore find the division of the fixed disk numbered 20 and thecorresponding radial division of the third chart ring and being coded,which is 1, will be found from the table to be in the first division ofthe' first disk in which the letters XU occur. In-

asmuch, however, as the division of the disk is less than ten, and theparticular disk is, the first correspondent will disregard the vowel andmerely accept the letter K which will give the letters MAKYX asrepresenting the number 60,341. The dropping of this vowel indicatesthat the remaining letter represents the one digit member and the vowelmay be safely dropped as the remaining consonant comes at the end of afive-letter word so that the word is readily pronounceable.

In like manner the correspondent will separate the number 19,652 asl965-2 and by locating these numbers in the table and .referring to thelettered charts will find the corresponding syllables VU-PE-Y. As eachof the words thus far found is readily pronounceable and has but fiveletters the two may be combined to form a single nondictionary wordwhich will be accepted as a single-word by telegraph and cablecompanies.

As the correspondent proceeds with this coding he will preferablytabulate the re- .lsults throughout the entire message as folows:

19-VU "es-PE 86 MAKYXVUPEY 41NA -1 E NAJ'EDKOJYS 113 93-WI 00-BO 93ITUCWIBOSU 17-SU 87--NI NIYBODOGMA lar phrase or sentence represented bythe number taken from the code book and which is as a consequencewritten conveniently! near the coded word representing such number.

Correspondent having thus coded the first two numbers will divide thethird number into the portions ll-80 and l) and code them as MA--J E andD respectively in the manner previously described. He will then dividethe number of 10,633 into two numbers 106 and 33 and find the letters K0and JY respectively, following the rule to always accept the largestnumber which can be found in the table and consequently diriding thenumber as 106 and 33 rather than as 10-63 and 3. This also possesses theadded advantage that only four letters in this particular case arerequired to represent the number, where if divided in any other mannerpossible within the limits of the table, six letters would be required.Correspondent then proceeds to code the number 90,185 by dividing it as90-18 and 5 and determining the proper letters from the combined use ofthe table and code rings as SITU-C respectively. When correspondent hasreached this point he will find that the third number coded, namely,41.806 required five letters, that the next number coded required fourand that these four letters may be combined with the five preceding andwith the next following letter obtained by coding the number 90,185 togive the second code word of ten letters in the message.

The number 9,300 is then coded as 9300 and in letters as WT-BO; 17 ,872is coded as 17-872 or in letters as SU-NI-Y and the last number 101 iscoded as 00101 or in letters as BO-DO. The insertion of the two Osbefore this number, of course, does not change its value as a codenumber and at the same time indicates that the resultant number 101 isnot to be combined with any further numerals which may follow as a checkupon the message, as will be soon explained.

As each number is transformed to lettered code the sum of the numbersinto which such number was divided is placed at a suitable point asdescribed with the first number coded. these sums for the differentnumbers coded being preferably disposed one below the other so that theymay be readily added In the present instance the sum thus obtained is860 and this number is coded as 8-60 or in letters as GMA. In formingthe second transmittable code word of ten letters, as previouslydescribed. the S of the SI obtained from coding the number 90,185 wasemployed. the third transmittable code word of ten syllables willconsequently start with the l and be as follows: ITUCWIBOSU. Theremainder of the message proper therefore contains only the lettersNIYBODO, seven in all to which may be added in forming the third wordthe letters GMA which constitute the test for the entire message. Itwill, therefore, be seen that correspondent has transformed eight codenumbers, each of which if sent in numerical form would constitute aseparate word, into four code words in alphabetical form, the last ofwhich also includes a test for the entire message. These words are,therefore, transmitted over the wire or cable to the secondcorrespondent who proceeds to de-code the message as follows. Uponreceipt of the message correspondent will write it as follows:

MAKYXVUPE YNAJ EDKOJ YSIT U C VVIBOSUNIYBODOGMA.

He will then divide this message as follows, taking care that nosyllable contains over two letters and that all two-lettered syllablesconsist of a consonant followed by a vowel, always considering that whenthe letter Y immediately follows a vowel it be considered as aconsonant, while when it follows directly after a consonant it beconsidered as a vowel:

The receiving correspondent knowing by prearranged plan the particularseries of chart rings employed by the sender and their relativearrangement will set a correspond ing series of chart rings in the samemanner and will then proceed to de-code the syllables into numbers. Forinstance, the first syllable MA will be found in the twentieth divisionof the third chart ring and correspondent will therefore consult thetable division beneath the ordinate 20 and in line with the third ringordinate and find the number 60. In like manner KY will be found in thefourteenth division of the second ring and its corresponding number willbe found in the fourteenth and second column of the table as 34. X,combined with the vowel U will be found in the first division of thefirst ring and reference to the table willlocate it as 1. At this pointit should be noted that in some instances any one of the numerals 1 to 9will be of necessity transmitted, while in some instances any one of thetwo digit numbers 01 to 09 will of will grou them to rovide the codenumber 60,341. (gorrespoml nt will then proceed in the same manner tode-code the remalnmg syllables, tabulating the results as follows,placing the test numbers conveniently below each other as shown:

X- 1 60,341. The sentence found in code book. VU- 19 PE- 65 Y 2 19,052.I NA- 41 IE 80 D 6 127 41,806. KO-lOB SI- 90 TU- 18 5 113 90,185. WI- 93B0- 00 93 9,300. SU- 17 NI- 87 Y 2 106 17,872. B0-- 00 00 DO-lOl 101101.

860 .G 8 MA- 60 860.

The letters GMA de-coded give the final number 860 Which is obviouslythe test number for the entire message. The remaining test numbers forthe various numerals de-coded are then added and if the result is 860the message is known to be correct. Of course, after tabulating thede-coded message the resultant numbers are found in the proper codebook, determined by prearranged plan between the correspondents, and thephrases or sentences are preferably written in place upon the table asindicated.

After the entire message has been de-coded and the test numbers thusadded if the sum of the test numbers does not correspond. with thenumber obtained by dc-coding the letters representing the test numberthe re.- ceiver of the message will understand that some error has beenmade in its transmittal. This will usually also be apparent by the factthat one or more of the phrases or sentences will be obviously incorrectwhen considered in conjunction with the remainder of the message as itwill in all likelihood be'incongruous to the subject-matter of themessage as a whole.

As an example we may assume that in the message above received the firstfive letters of the message appeared as MAZEX which de-coded would givethe numbers 6040 and 1 or the code book number 60,401. This number wouldbe obviously incorrect as the sentence which it represents in the codebook would not be appropriate with the rest of the de-coded message. Thetest number for this message would, however, be 101 and the sum of allthe test numbers of the message would as a result be 866 which is siXmore than given in the message. The correspondent would, thereforesubtract 6 from the 60, assuming that the error might be in the firsttwo letters and obtain tence. Of course,

and transmitted as letters under the number 54,341 and find this numberin the code book. Finding'that the sentence corresponding to this numberwas not such a sentence as would be expected he would then subtract the6 from the 40 finding the number 60,341 which when looked up inthe codebook would give the correct senif the error happened to be in the thirdnumber 1 the operation would be continued as above described. If twosentences were found to be incorrect and the test number was correct theperson receiving the message would, of course,

know that two errors had been made, one of which for test purposesoflset the other and would attempt to correct the error by successivelyadding and subtracting numbers ranging from 1 up from each number of oneof the incorrect code numbers until the correct number Was obtained whenhe would add or subtract the same number, as the case might be, to thenumber divisions of the other incorrect number until the proper secondnumber Was found.

If the test number is incorrect and several code numbers are found to beincorrect it may, in some instances, be almost impossible to properlycorrect the code numbers by the above described methods but oftentimesthe correspondent may happen upon the right numbers by following theabove method, always keeping in mind the fact that the differencesbetween thecorrect test number and that found by adding the test numbersof the different code numbers may be the sum of the errors or thedifferences between them. However, this method provides a certain meansof determining a single error in a code message and it is seldom thatmore than one error will occur and in any event it is sure indication tothe person receiving the message of whether the message is correct orincorrect.

As will be readily appreciated any interpreting of an interceptedmessage coded according to my system is practically impossible eventhough the person attemptin it is familiar with the code book in whichthe numbers obtained by translating the code are to be found. Of course,however, a private or secret code may be employed and the numbers takenfrom such a code my system.

Of course, there should be certain prearranged plans between thecorresponding parties in all cases as to the use of the apparatus forcoding and de-coding messages and these plans maybe of such a characterthat even though a number of the messages or even a number of de-codedmessages are surreptitiously obtained it -would be impossible, reasoningfrom them to de-code further messages which might be intercepted.

For instance, referring to the diagram in Fig. 7 showing one relativearrangement of the numerals and of the consonants employed as regardsthe numbers of the divisions two correspondents may have it understoodbetween them the first message sent will be coded with the apparatusarranged as shown in Fig. 2 in which the first ring will have itsdlvisions occupied by a consonant followed by the vowel U and in whichthe order of the vowels in the successive outer rings will be YAEIO andin which the order of consonants in the same rings will be XTNKGD. Theunderstanding may then be that the second message will have a difi'erentset of chart rings in which the vowel of the first or inner ring will beY, the vowels of the succeeding outer rings being arranged in the orderof AEIOU and that the arrangement of the consonants from the inner tothe outer ring will be TNKGDX. In other words, the correspondents mayunderstand that in successive messages the next vowel in order to thelast will be employed and that the order of the consonants will advanceone division upon the diagram or table with each message. Inasmuch asthere are six vowels and twenty consonants it will be apparent that whenit becomes necessary to repeat any vowel such as the first, the order ofthe consonants will be entirely different from what it was when thevowel was first employed. Because of this any attempt to deduce themanner of setting the apparatus for decoding any particular message byreasoning from other messages obtained or de-coded will be impossible.If the correspondents desire they may keep charts, as indicated in Figs.8 and 9, checking oif the order of vowels and consonants as they havebeen employed so that there may be no likelihood of their forgetting themanner in which the apparatus should be set for coding or de-coding thenext message.

Although the above method of varying the order of vowels and consonantsby the employment of successive sets of chart rings arranged indifferent relative positions is simple and one which will be commonlyemployed, the correspondents may, of course. make any desired plans asregards the order of use of the sets of chart rings and the manner ofarranging them, merely being sure that both correspondents fullyunderstand the system to be employed.

In Fig. 10 I have illustrated two chart rings of yet a third set showingthem removed from the remainder of the apparatus. In these rings, whichare the two inner lettered rings, the inner vowel is E and the vowel ofthe second ring is I and it will be appreciated from the previousdescription that the consequent arrangement of vowels would be EIOUYAwhen employing this entire set of chart rings.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In an apparatus of the character specified a plurality of supportingrings concentrically disposed with the inner ring fixed and theremainder mounted for turning movement, means for selectively andindependently turning the latter rings, and a plurality of chart ringsdetachably engaged upon the supporting rings, all of the chart ringsbeing provided with corresponding radial divisions, successivelyincreasing numbers inscribed in the divisions of the fixed ring, andtwo-letter syllables inscribed in the divisions of the remaining rings.

2. In an apparatus of the character specified a plurality of supportingrings concentrically disposed with the inner ring fixed and theremainder mounted for turning movement, means for selectively andindependently turning the latter rings, and a plurality of chart ringsdetachably engaged upon the supporting rings, all of the chart ringsbeing provided with corresponding radial divisions, successivelyincreasing numbers inscribed in the divisions of the fixed ring, andtwo-letter syllables inscribed in the divisions of the remaining rings,each syllable of each ring comprising a consonant followed by a vowel,the consonants of each ring being dissimilar and the vowel in eachdivision of the same ring the same.

3. In an apparatus of the character specified a plurality of supportingrings concentrically disposed with the inner ring fixed and theremainder mounted for turning movement, means for selectively andindependently turning the latter rings, and a plurality of chart ringsdetachably engaged upon the supporting rings, all of the chart 105 ringsbeing provided with corresponding radial divisions, successivelyincreasing numbers inscribed in the divisions of the fixed ring, andtwo-letter syllables inscribed in the divisions of the remaining rings,each 110 syllable of each ring comprising a consonant followed by avowel, the consonants of each ring being dissimilar and the vowel ineach division of the same ring the same, each ring having adistinguishing vowel.

4. In an apparatus for the purpose specified, a casing, a tablesupported within the casing, a hub fixed upon the table, a plurality ofsuperimposed disks rotatably supported about the hub and decreasing in120 diameter from the lowermost to the uppermost, a fixed supportingring mounted about the hub above the uppermost disk. a plural ity ofconcentrically disposed supporting rings surrounding the first ring. allof the 126 rings lying in the same plane, pins carried by the disks andsupporting said latter rings whereby the rings may turn with the disks,and means for selectively turning the disks.

5. In an apparatus for the purpose speci- 1w fied, a casing, a tablesupported within the casing, a hub fixed upon the table, a plurality ofsuperimposed disks rotatably supported about the hub and decreasing indiameter from the lowermost to the uppermost, a fixed supporting ringmounted about the hub above the uppermost disk, a plural ity ofconcentrically disposed supporting rings surrounding the first ring, allof the rings lying in the same plane, pins carried by the disks andsupporting said latter rings whereby the rings may turn with the disks,means for selectively turning the disks, and anti-friction elementsinterposed between the disks to permit their free turning.

6. In an apparatus for the purpose specified, a combination with aplurality of'concentrically disposed rings independently adjustable'with respect to each other and divided into corresponding radialdivisions the divisions of one of the rings being numbered in sequenceto form ordinate numbers for the remaining rings and the divisions ofthe remaining rings being inscribed with two-letter syllables eachsyllable consisting of a consonant followed by a vowel particular to itsring, of a table divided into vertical columns corresponding to thedivisions of the rings, and horizontal columns corresponding to thenumber of the rings, the divisions thus formed being inscribed withnumbers in sequence whereby each division of the table correspondsthrough its location in. a certain horizontal column to a particulardivision of some ring and -through its 10- zontal coordinate indicia,

cation in the vertical column to a particular r1ng. y

7. A method of transmitting messages which consists in finding codenumbers representing the sentences of the desired message, in dividingthese numbers into sections, in locating thesectional numbers thus foundin a table having vertical and horierence to a series of concentriccharts certain chart divisions corresponding to the various codrdinateindicia, in taking therefrom inscribed alphabetical syllables and incombining the syllables thus found to form pronounceable non-dictionarywords which may be transmitted as the message.

8. A method of transmitting messages which consists in finding codenumbers representing the sentences of the desired message, in dividingthese numbers into sections, in locating the sectional numbers thusfound in a table having vertical and horizontal coordinate indicia, infinding by reference to a series of concentric charts certain chartdivisions corresponding to the various coordinate indicia, in takingtherefrom inscribed alphabetical syllables and in combining thesyllables thus found to form pronounceable non-dictionary words whichmay be transmitted as the message, and in then reversing the process tode-code the message.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

RAMON GUZMAN M. 1,. 5.

in finding by ref-

